WB helps youth activities in Tirana with Japanese funding

TIRANA, Nov 7 – The World Bank and the Municipality of Tirana signed last week an agreement for the implementation of a Japanese Social Fund Grant of US$1.2 million for the Youth Empowerment through Community Development in Albania.
This Grant will support a pilot program in Tirana and Durres aimed to increase the involvement of urban youth in community development and civic participation, as well as to expand their opportunities for training, entrepreneurship and employment.
The World Bank will administer the grant on behalf of the Government of Japan.
The agreement was signed by Tirana Mayor Edi Rama and Camille Nuamah, World Bank Country Manager, held in the presence of Honorary Consul General of Japan in Albania, Avni Ponari, as well as Municipality and World Bank project team members.
Nuamah said that, “The youth of Albania have a critical role to play as the country moves toward accession and integration with the European and global economies. We are confident that this grant can help to find new mechanisms to spur their interest in civic engagement, public policy and entrepreneurship.”
The Project aims at achieving its main objective through piloting several programs aimed to: (i) increase youth participation in civic affairs through community development grants; (ii) help urban youth acquire a variety of skills that can support the transition from secondary schooling to the labor force; and (iii) increase the access of youth to livelihood and employment opportunities through grants that support youth entrepreneurial activities.
“This grant will serve not only to the youngsters that will directly benefit from it, but as well as all local governments by testing models to improve youth engagement in the future,” said Ponari.
The project supports youth empowerment and community development activities in the municipalities of Tirana and Durres.